There’s just one week remaining before the NCAA college basketball transfer portal shuts, and Vanderbilt still has multiple roster vacancies. However, that list got a bit shorter on Tuesday.
According to a report from On3, NC State guard has committed to Vanderbilt. James previously transferred from Louisville to NC State but missed the entire past season due to a knee injury.
James spent two seasons at Louisville, appearing in 64 games and averaging 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard also shot 34% from beyond the arc and hit 81.8% of his free throws during that span.
He’s a strong pickup for the Commodores, bringing both size and reliable perimeter shooting. That said, James is now the second recent addition to the roster coming off a major injury—joining former TCU guard Frankie Collins, who also missed most or all of last season.
That’s not necessarily a negative. Many players return from season-ending injuries and thrive. Of course, there are also instances where recovery isn’t complete, and players struggle to get back to form. It’s the nature of sports—there’s always some uncertainty.
Still, it’s a calculated risk—and the kind of move Vanderbilt should be making if it wants to build on last year’s 20-win campaign.
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